Page 17 of Evergreen Desires
"No, thank you. Thank you, really. I haven't had someone be as nice to me as you have without asking for something in return. You haven't even tried to push me for answers. You've only admitted to having the hots for me," Jake said, his voice filled with gratitude.
"I do have the hots for you, and your story is yours to tell or not. In the end, I just want to make you happy. I really don't feel like you're taking advantage of me. Just the opposite, you've been clear that there's no need for any of this. This isn't an attempt to control you; it's an attempt to make you happy."
I noticed a tear welling up in Jake's eye.
"I also have a proposition for you," I continued.
"Okay," he responded, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice.
"I'd like to officially hire you as an employee of the farm. That way, you won't feel like you're taking advantageof me, and you can earn a paycheck. You're still welcome to stay here in my house and eat any food in the kitchen. But Dick's comment last night made me think: I can give you an official job, and then there's no gray area with license enforcement."
"What would I be doing?" Jake asked, intrigued.
"Well, there's always something to do in the greenhouse, not to mention harvest time for the plants is always busy for Will and me. But I could also really use some good pictures and updates for my website if you're up for it."
"Where does that leave us?"
"Interesting question. You know I'm drawn to you, and I have a strong interest in you. There's a possibility that I might play favorites with you over the other employees. A very high possibility. Given that it's just me, you, and Will as official employees, I'm guessing it'll be okay with Will. Besides, a little workplace romance, if it comes to that, might be exciting. I hope HR doesn't find out..." I trailed off, smirking.
Jake’s mouth dropped open. "Wait, it's only you and Will running this place?".
"Yes, although we bring in a seasonal crew to help with the Christmas tree harvest in early November for a few weeks. Other than that, it's just us. We grow and harvest the cannabis and outsource the production."
"That seems like a lot of work for two people."
I grinned. "Well, I'm hoping for three people."
"Okay, when do you want me to start?" Jake asked.
"How about tomorrow? Today, you can mess around with the computer, load your photos, play with the software. Take it easy. That'll give me time to break the news to Will that you're now my favorite employee," I added, winking at him. His scent returned to normal, perhaps with a hint of arousal, and that arousal mirrored my own as a boss and subordinate scenario played out in my head.
Jake eyed me suspiciously. "Why are you grinning?"
"Um, you might not want to know," I replied, my grin widening.
He chuckled. "Maybe not," he agreed, turning to his computer and opening it up without yet turning it on, examining it.
His scent spiked momentarily, causing me to get lost in my fantasies. Suddenly, I remembered breakfast. "Shoot, the eggs will be cold by now," I exclaimed, walking back to the stove. "Sorry, I'll make us some new ones."
"Beau, thank you for everything. Just so you know, I find myself having the hots for you, too. I hope you'll still feel the same way when my brain finally catches up," Jake confessed.
I grinned to myself as I cracked open two more eggs. "I don't plan on going anywhere.”
CHAPTER 15
JAKE
“Well,thatwas unexpected," I muttered to myself as Beau disappeared into the greenhouse after our quick breakfast. I moved the computer he had given me to the dining room, or rather, what was seemingly Beau's office. His laptop sat on the dining room table, accompanied by a cup of pens, a stack of paperwork, and a wireless printer on the sideboard.
Taking a seat on the opposite side of the table, I ran the power cable across the surface and floor, connecting it to the nearest outlet and then to the laptop. As I opened it up and pressed the power button, the machine whirred to life, swiftly going through its start-up process. While it booted up, I found myself staring across the table at Beau's computer, my mind wandering to the image of sitting across from him as he worked. I couldn't deny that I had enjoyed our time together last night, even if it was just shopping and a quick dinner. Despite the threats from Rich, the evening had been amazing. There were moments of comfortable silence, unlike the unsettling and awkward silences that had plagued my past relationships. Beau had defended me andhad not abandoned me when he realized the extent of my past pains. Love at first sight was a stretch for me, but clearly, Beau believed in it. So why was I still fighting this?
Suddenly, I snapped back to reality as I noticed that the computer was ready to use. "Wow, that was fast," I remarked, impressed by the speed. My previous computer would take ages to boot up, sometimes requiring multiple attempts before finally starting.
I started exploring the computer, checking out the programs Beau had installed. It was evident that he hadn't cut any corners when it came to this computer. I was genuinely impressed that he had anticipated my needs so well. He’d even took the time to set up the wireless printer and connect it to my laptop.
I looked up Boon Christmas Tree Farm on Google. The results led me to the farm’s website. As I browsed through it, I couldn't help but notice that it looked outdated. The photos were several years old, with hairstyles and clothing styles that gave away their age. They appeared to be scanned images from old photographs, and there were only a handful of recent shots added at some point, likely taken from a cellphone. It was a failed attempt to give the website an updated look. While I wasn't a web designer, I knew I could offer some help, or at the very least, avoid making it worse. I made a mental note to ask Beau for the host information and password later.
In the meantime, I began brainstorming ideas for photos. I envisioned capturing shots of the trees in the field, with the old barn in the background. Perhaps even a pictureof a tractor pulling a trailer, like those used for hayrides. And during the Christmas season, I could take photos of kids playing in the snow. Of course, I also had a few action shots in mind featuring Beau, the farm's most attractive asset.
